Thursday, 29 January 2009

For Like....Gone!

I don't usually like to post sad news here at ABT because I personally try to concentrate on the happy things in life and I try, as much as possible, to make ABT a happy, positive place for you my readers. But today is not a happy day. Today is a sad day and a day which I cannot let pass by without making my very small voice heard.

This morning I woke to emails from some of my lovely blog friends {Jo, Heather & Natalie} letting me know about the awful and I must say depressing news that Domino Magazine is finished....what we all thought was 'For Like Ever' is now 'For Like Gone'.

Each month, like lots and lots of people around the world I looked forward to my Domino subscription arriving in my mail box, albeit much later than my American friends...but always worth the wait.

In my opinion Domino has been a breath of fresh air. It has supported young, up-and-coming Designers and has been a magazine which has inspired me as a young Designer to think outside the square. It has offered Eco-Friendly Design, Budget-Friendly Design and overall I feel that it has offered achievable Design.

I spoke to Natalie Walton this morning {via email}, the Deputy Editor of Real Living Magazine here in Australia and I said to her I hope this doesn't start happening to our favourite Australian Home Magazines. Her response was interesting.....

"I think part of the problem with US mags is that they charge so little for the subscriptions – often only $1 an issue – that they’re really heavily reliant on advertising so when that drops they don’t have much room left to manoeuvre within their budget."

I agree with Natalie. I certainly think Domino was very inexpensive and I would have paid double, even triple the price for my monthly issue. Our Australian Home magazines range in price from roughly $6.00 to $10.00 an issue.

However, there really isn't anything we can do. I feel sad for the contributing Sylists, Writers, Photographers, Designers featured and Staff of Domino and I feel sad that these horrible times are taking away our small pleasures.

37 comments:

very well put. it was one of the few magazines that i feel really spoke to my aesthetic and age range...and where i am, decor-wise, in life. each month it provided a wealth of tips and inspiration for me.

i agree with what your friend said about subscription rates. i often notice that u.s. subscriptions, if you are in the u.s., are quite inexpensive. i think a year issue was only about $10? whereas here in canada a subscription to style at home (a great design mag) is $23/year.

Even though we have a 150 year old house and serious (and not-so-serious) antiques, I loved that magazine and really looked forward to it every month. Very informative and creative, interesting columns. What a shame. And Country Home is gone, too! What to read now besides Vogue and House Beautiful? Yikes!

This is the most sad news I've had in a long time. I would have gladly paid double! Although w/our fledgeling US economy, I don't know that charging more would have been realistic. I mean, with the price being so cheap in the first place, you'd think they would have more subscribers than they know what to do with. Oh well, it is sad no matter how you look at it! I will definitely miss Domino.

I live in the US and I'm heartbroken that paying more for it might have kept it around. The publishers should know we'd pay more to get our fix. It's like too many things/places that are disappearing right now. At least Domino was a great escape. If Vanity Fair goes, I swear I will go with it.

Country Home, now Domino...who's next??Like you Anna I thought about our Aussie mags today. I never stopped to think about the price of a US subscription...they are cheap. We are paying that for one issue, but I don't mind. For all the hard work that goes into the makeup of some of these superb little comforts, I think they are worth every cent...and like you I would have paid more. I did read that in no uncertain terms, us design bloggers are the cause!!!!Let's hope the Aussie mags have their fingers on the pulse.Ness xx

I saw the news yesterday on a few blog sites....I just didn't want it to be true, so I put it out of my mind. I must face the fact today - unfortunately. This is the only mag I looked forward to seeing in the mailbox and typically read each and every page! I'm terribly sad here in Texas... I hear we have until March before we no longer receive issues. Until then, let's savor every bit. :) Thank goodness I have back issues. They will always inspire me.

I saw the news yesterday on a few blog sites....I just didn't want it to be true, so I put it out of my mind. I must face the fact today - unfortunately. This is the only mag I looked forward to seeing in the mailbox and typically read each and every page! I'm terribly sad here in Texas... I hear we have until March before we no longer receive issues. Until then, let's savor every bit. :) Thank goodness I have back issues. They will always inspire me.

So very true. In the US, I pay so little for these subscriptions, yet they are more or just as valuable as an expensive design book. I think most would pay the higher rate becasue these are such wonderfl publications.

As sad as I am for myself over the loss of my monthly Domino dose, you bring up a very good point. .. All of the amazing minds that have been employed by Domino are surely more affected than the readers... I wish them the best and hope we hear from them again soon in some outlet or another!

Hi Anna, first & foremost, love your blog!Second, sad day for many of us indeed.Last, I would be double (maybe triple) if it's a magazine I really loved and this case I would have done that for Domino. Luckily I have a few issues that will stay with me forever, but of course, it won't be the same. Maybe one day if the economy gets beter it will return. Until then, only the memories. :(

i am 100 percent gutted!!!!!!! i was so afraid of this happening when i heard that my other favorite cottage living was no longer. this is unrelenting!! i keep every single issue of domino in a shrine like position on the hearth of my (non functioning) fireplace. now i have to blog about this too. sigh. *jennyhttp://myfavoriteandmybest.blogspot.com/

I totally, totally agree. I have always thought of Domino (and other great mags) as a required part of my design business, and would gladly have paid what they were worth vs. seeing them go the way of the dinosaur. Like many other people I've heard from over here in the States, we're going to turn to more and more international shelter mags to fill the void. Any 'must haves' from your neck of the woods?

I am absolutely depressed by this news. This makes three of my favorite design magazines that have folded in the last two months, including Cottage Living and Country Home. The idea that we will be going backwards in the availability of design images and ideas is sad indeed. To have had so many wonderful magazines to choose from was a golden time.

Thanks for posting this. I originally came to Domino through your Blog and subscribed and totally love it as well! I thought it would be safe as it seemed so well established. What a blow. I also subscribe to Romantic Homes in the US as they are so expensive to buy in Australia (nearly twenty dollars for that one!) I hope it survives but if Domino went under...

This is terrible news for all of us design addicts.Domino truly was a breath of fresh air. I was always excited to see what new trends and new designers they would introduce to me every month.This is a sad day.

I just posted about this as well. I'll be sad to see it go, only one more issue to come. There are so many shelter magazines that have disappeared within the last year. I'll miss Blueprint and Domino the most.

I just caught on the news today!! The worst thing is, I finally prompted myself to start subscribing to Domino late last year and only ever received 2 issues - which I so-looked-forward-to! The second darnest thing is that I'm getting abit more serious about home decor etc these days because we are going to start building our house soon. Just when I need more reference than ever!!! Thank goodness I am faithful to Real Living :) ...and I also stalk a few blogs in my free time, so *~ HELLO there inspiring bloggers who have given me so much eye candy and wisdom ~* And Anna, your blog is bar far one of the loveliest, so is your shop though I've spent more time admiring your shop window than actually going in (except for the one time when i picked up the porcelain owl). Keep up the loveliness! Cheers, OL

Truly heartbreaking. As you so eloquently said, these horrible times are taking away some of our simplest pleasures. I eagerly awaited my subscription each month in New York. It has been a great relief from these stressful times. Two hours to myself on the couch, devoted to the escape that is dreaming about my next home. I invested countless hours in My Deco File (with many Absolutely Beautiful Things images!), planning my country home. I am sorry this great resource will no longer be available to us.

OMG Anna - this is awfully terribly sad news... I just loved their mag and their decorating book that sprung from this fresh contemporary mag. I share your sentiment with our Australian mags..I would hate to have any of the great Australian home & garden lifestyle mags face closure. Just in the fashion & furniture industry there are already so many of my friends looking for new jobs as clothing wholesalers and decoator items/ furniture wholesalers hutring with the majors like Domayne (Harvey Norman group) hitting it hardAs at 31 Jan 09 - SMH.com.au reported '... with 163 Harvey Norman stores, 16 upmarket Domayne stores and 15 lowest-tier Joyce Mayne stores at the end of June. Of these, about 20 per cent were loss-making, he said. "We have some other [stores] on the books to close as well," Mr Harvey said yesterday.

I just really hope tis economic ripple effect can stay mostly over the Atlantic and not cross the Pacific too much...Take care, Sarah

I too am heartbroken over Domino. It really is a quality magazine with great designers, read-worthy articles, and lovely tips. I rely on it as an interior designer and a twenty-something house renovator. When the US's House and Garden went under, Domino was the only good thing to come out of it. I think Conde Nast (the publisher) should reevaluate.

I just came across this awesome blog, and I'm glad I saw this post! I am so disappointed to see Domino go away. I agree with you that I would have willingly paid much more than the subscription price they charged, because in my opinion, it is the best magazine for your money.

I established this blog in 2006 so that I could record my inspirations, my thoughts and my work as an Interior Designer. Based in Brisbane, Australia, my store Black & Spiro is always filled with a unique collection of interesting things which we scour the globe to find. I am most passionate about my family, my career, tradition, collecting, flowers, fabric, gardening, colour and quality and I will always strive to be creative and extraordinary in everything I do. I hope I can inspire you to live a bright and colourful life surrounded by the things you love.